somehow they are muzzled by the media. Yet the truth is that in Bermuda every person has much greater access to the media and a much greater chance of getting their points across in the media than just about anywhere else on earth.

The newspapers, radio and, to a lesser extent, television are very open to the people of Bermuda no matter how controversial their opinions. Let's be open here, some of the opinions written to this newspaper and expressed on talk shows give every appearance of being either madness or rubbish. The freedom of expression provided for Bermudians is, in fact, quite remarkable and unique.

Of course, in addition to the letters and the talk shows, the newspapers carry a wide range of columnists, from Alvin Williams to Edgar Wilkinson. This newspaper, through which you can reach just about everyone in Bermuda, continues to operate a long standing policy of an open letters to the Editor column. That policy exists in very few newspapers and the policy is often praised by visitors, especially those who want to complain about Bermuda.

Sometimes the opinions are extreme or even unpleasant but they are printed.

Quite often people object to the opinions being printed but they usually only do that when they disagree with the opinion and they might well approve of a strong opinion of another sort. Too often the public thinks that this newspaper approves of the opinions people express when we neither approve nor disapprove but simply print the letters, even those highly critical of ourselves.

Historically The Royal Gazette's open letters policy served an important function because an anonymous letter to the then Editor was just about the only way black Bermudians had of being heard during the days of segregation.

Anonymous letters are often very controversial but anonymity is not unusual in Bermuda since it is also used on broadcast call-in programmes. Here at The Royal Gazette we are often criticised for using anonymous letters and for the content of some of the letters yet we know that we would cut off people's opinions and the letters would dry up if they had to be signed, just as they have so obviously dried up at The Bermuda Sun.

Bermuda is a small place and for many people anonymity is important. As examples, we get anonymous letters from inside the political parties critical of those parties. We have civil servants, teachers and members of the Police Service who write in their complaints which otherwise could not be aired. Yet we are accused of muzzling.

If residents or even visitors do not want to put pen to paper they can and do have their say or an array of radio talk shows. In our opinion the shows are weakened by the same people telephoning over and over with repetitive points of view but still they are open to people who want to let off steam. Very often, in fact, they discuss the contents of this newspaper and that is healthy for all of us. Like every other institution in Bermuda, The Royal Gazette has its problems and its faults and should be kept "on its toes'' because it is the primary source of information in Bermuda.